Internal wire supports for re-inforced vinyl extrusions

ABSTRACT

A plastic support which holds a wire throughout its length which may be inserted into a hollow plastic member such as a fence rail with the wire positioned where it may prevent deflection of the plastic fence or like member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] In applicant's co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/671,852 entitled REINFORCED VINYL EXTRUSIONS, an invention is disclosed and claimed which utilizes wires in hollow vinyl extrusions to prevent their deflection, especially those used as fence rails. While this invention works very effectively, there is a problem in inserting the wires through the length of the extrusions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The purpose of this invention is to provide a mechanism whereby the wires which are to be placed under tension inside of the hollow extruded member may be readily introduced into the hollow extruded member by means of plastic supports which have a length approximately the same as the hollow extruded plastic member and which in turn carry the wires in the appropriate position inside of the hollow extruded member.

[0003] Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a plastic member which will carry suitable interior wire reinforcement which may be inserted into a hollow plastic extrusion and thus, prevent unnecessary deflection in use.

[0004] This, together with other objects of the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section showing a plastic support, H-shaped in cross section, fitted within a rectangular extruded plastic member such as a fence rail.

[0006]FIG. 2 is an end view of FIG. 1 showing the end which is not shown in FIG. 1.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a side view of the opposite end of the combination shown in FIG. 1

[0008]FIG. 4 is a section in the plane 4-4 of FIG. 3.

[0009]FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but shows an alternative type of plastic support member which is X-shaped in cross section.

[0010]FIG. 6 is a section at the end of FIG. 5 showing the support wire extending out into the rear of the plastic extruded member.

[0011]FIG. 7 is a section through FIG. 5 in the plane 7-7.

[0012]FIG. 8 is a section similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 showing an I-shaped plastic support member which has only a single wire going through the hollow extruded plastic member.

[0013]FIG. 9 is a section of FIG. 8 in the plane 9-9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] This invention will be described with respect to an extruded vinyl fence rail which is rectangular in cross section; however, it should be understood that it is applicable to other vinyl extrusions which may be circular in cross section as is disclosed in applicant's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/671,852.

[0015] Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, typical fence rail 10 is provided with end cap 11 which has a comparable end cap 12 at the opposite end. (See FIG. 2.) The plastic support member 13 is shown in section and is provided with four openings 14 a, 14 b, 14 c and 14 d extending through its length through which the two pairs of wires 15 a and 15 b pass. These openings may be better seen in FIG. 4 with the wires 15 a and 15 b extending therethrough.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a view of the end cap 12 showing the wires 15 a and 15 b extending outward through openings 12 a and 12 b and then inward through openings 12 c and 12 d of the cover 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the wires are clipped together with clips 16 a and 16 b where they extend outward through openings 11 a, b, c and d of end cap 11.

[0017] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 7, an alternate plastic support 17 is shown which is X-shaped in cross section and provided with openings 18 a, 18 b, 18 c and 18 d, comparable to the openings and the location of the openings shown in FIG. 4 of the H-shaped cross section member 13. Wires 15 a and 15 b are located in these openings similar to the manner which has been described in connection with FIG. 1 where wires 15 a and 15 b extend through openings 11 a, b, c and d and are clipped together at the outside of the end cap 11.

[0018] It should be noted that while round openings 14 a, b, c, d and 18 a, b, c and d are shown, these openings can as well be U-shaped in cross section with the open portion of the U extending from the member itself. In other words the U portions which would be comparable to openings 14 b and 14 c would extend upwardly and the U portions that would replace openings 14 a and 14 d would extend downwardly, thus, effectively holding the wires 15 a and 15 b in place in both places.

[0019]FIG. 6 is a section of FIG. 5 in the plane 6-6 showing the wire 15 b extending through the end of the end cap 12.

[0020]FIG. 8 is a third example of a plastic support 19 in the shape of an I-beam in cross section. This is designed for use where there is only a need for a single wire 20 such as where the width of the extruded vinyl member 10 is much less than the height of the member 10.

[0021] The member 10 shown in FIG. 8 is provided with end caps 21 and 22 similar to those previously described and the wire 20 extends through openings 22 a and b of end cap 22 and is clipped together by a clip 24. In this case the openings 23-23 are at the opposite ends of the center section of the I-beam 19 as best shown in FIG. 9 and may be circular in cross section or U-shaped as previously described.

[0022] When utilizing the plastic support, the wires are placed therein temporarily fastened together at one end without the use of an end cap and at the opposite end, the wires extend through the end cap such as end caps 12 or 21. The entire assembly is then inserted inside of the extruded plastic fence rail 10 until the end cap 12 or 21 fits snugly against the end of the plastic rail 10 and then the wires are poked through the openings in the opposite end cap 11 or 22 and fastened with the appropriate fasteners 16 a and 16 b or 21. This provides an easy way in which to insert the wires through the length of the fence rail and to ensure that they are positioned in the best possible location to provide maximum strength and prevent the deflection of the fence rail or other plastic extrusion.

[0023] While this invention has been shown and described with respect to a detailed embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the claims of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A plastic support whose length is greater than its width and having two ends and comprising at least two oppositely disposed openings extending the length of said support, each of said openings adapted to contain wire therein extending there through.
 2. The plastic support of claim 1 which is H-shaped in cross section.
 3. The plastic support of claim 1 which is X-shaped in cross section.
 4. The plastic support of claim 1 which is I-shaped in cross section.
 5. The plastic support of claim 2 wherein openings are provided at the extremities of each of the vertical portions of the H-shape in cross section extending the length of said support.
 6. The plastic support of claim 3 wherein openings are provided at the ends of the legs of said support extending the length of said support.
 7. The plastic support of claim 4 wherein openings are provided at each end of the vertical portion of the I-shaped cross section extending the length of said support.
 8. The plastic support of claim 5 wherein said openings are U-shaped in cross section.
 9. The plastic support of claim 6 wherein said openings are U-shaped in cross section.
 10. The plastic support of claim 7 wherein said openings are U-shaped in cross section. 